Saturday, October 25, 2008

This is the Corset Tank Top without the buttons. I am getting them and going to sew them on this weekend.

My FIRST turkey ever! I managed to make it almost 43 years without cooking one! and I baked home made dinner rolls to go with the thanksgiving turkey. It was all wonderful.

OH and I got the next Wool Girl Sock club box. OMG what a box it was. It is all so yummy and wonderful smelling. The theme is Cherry Blossoms, and THAT is what it all smelled like. The yarn is Yarntini in the plum blossom colourway. I will enjoy knitting this great smelling yarn!

I also received the last of the Simply Sock Yan Company's sock club this past week. It was a Heels and Toes club. AND Pick Up Sticks Sock Club installment arrived too! It's has been a good week for yarn! The Pick Up Sticks Club is for Fleece Artist and Handmaiden sock yarn. It too is gorgeous. I will try to take pics this week of all the yarn.

DD Finished the baby Surprise Jacket too! All she has to do is sew up the shoulders and stitch on the buttons. She is so happy with it.

She also started to knit a pair of socks on DPN's. Her friend, C, is teaching her how to knit them. I can show her the magic loop way but she wanted to learn on DPN's. Oh well ... she is doing well. I have showed her a few things when she was stuck. She seems to be enjoying it...good for her! Just because I don't like DPN's, I'm glad that she is giving them a try. I am very glad that DD has a good friend that is interested in some of the same hobbies and crafts as her.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Sorry, it's been a while again since my last post. I just can't seem to get into the groove of blogging right now. I don't know why. I have no excuse. Maybe I just want to knit instead...not that bad a choice of activities I guess but I will try to be more consistent, maybe at least once a week.

Life has been busy. DD got a new job and seems to like this one. She is very happy to be out of the food business! This job is in Organization...funny DS is working for that same type of business too. Unfortunately they both are NOT organized! Hopefully maybe that will change!

We have been cleaning up around the outside of the house. We have a few rather large trees in and around our back yard. The other night we scooped up 3 bags of leaves and by the next morning it looked like we did nothing. I am NOT a fan of trees and leaves, but I love Fall best of all! It is my favourite season. Fortunatly we closed and covered the pool BEFORE we went hunting so there are no leaves in the pool. Small blessings!

On the knitting front. I have been knitting quite a bit though although you wouldn't know it from the lack of pictures. I have finished knitting the 'parts' of my basic cardigan but I have yet to block it. After that I have to sew it together and then pick up the stitches for the button band! Maybe if I blog here about it I will actually get the blocking done. I mean if I make a promise to others then I HAVE to keep that promise rather than just not doing it. I figure if I am accountable to someone out there then it will get done.

I still haven't sewn on the buttons for the Corset tank top or the second Calorimetry or the Tudora. I am really slacking here! They are all finished except for the easy part...the buttons. I will try to get that done by the weekend. Again I need the accountability.

I am almost finished the Springgrass socks that I have bene working on. The Leaf shawl is still in progress and DD is FINALLY back working on her Baby Surprise Jacket. I will attempt to take some pictures this week and post them here for all to see.

Thanksgiving weekend was great. We had the best weather we could have ever wanted for that time. It was gorgeous out. DH and I decided to cook the turkey this year. MIL and DH's brother and sister and their families came for dinner. We had so much food it was great. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, turnip, gravey, homemade baked buns and pie for dessert. This was my first turkey that I helped to cook in my life. I would definately do it again. After everything was said and done I took the carcass and made turkey soup. I love my crockpot. The soup turned out to be divine! We had it the next day for lunch.

DS is finished his driving lessons and is taking his G2 test the middle of November. The G2 license lets him drive alone, without me or some other licensed driver in the front seat beside him. I get that it's part of growing up and being independent but I am not sure that I am ready for THAT yet. Oh well it is going to happen so I guess I had better get on board!. He is quite a good driver. I am not that nervous beside him anymore. I think that it will just be practice that will make me more comfortable. He has informed me that once he gets his full license he will drive me EVERYWHERE. I told him that he could do that now. He is 17. He is a responsible boy but I do remember him when he was my little baby and THAT is what I am having a hard time with. He also wants to take another year of high school to get the extra credits that he feels will get him into university. I guess that gives me another year of having him around here before he goes off to university. Thank you again for small blessings!

As my birthday approaches I have been thinking about how my life would be if I had made other choices. Hindsight is 20/20 vision. I always figured that I would be in a different place by this time. I am turning 43 andthat makes you rethink the things and choices that you made. I have always lived by the motto, "that if you are not happy then change the things". I got divorced, dumped the next guy who made me unhappy, moved to better our lives and changed jobs to be happy. Now I seem to have it all worked out. I am in a great relationship with DH, my kids are settled in life and school and are doing well, my family is all well and we are happy. I have no regrets about the way my life has turned out, however if I could do it again I would make a few changes (education choice and maybe employment opportunities)...wouldn't we all...

Saturday, October 4, 2008

It has been quite a while since I last blogged. A LOT has happened since then. I will try to remember it all so here goes...

Since I was last here, we bought the house we were renting. It is a smaller house but it works for us. And since I hate to clean smaller is better for me! The less I have to do the happier I am.

School has started and both DD and DS are doing very well. They both like their classes in grade 10 and 12. The move to Burlington a year ago was a really good thing for both of them. They have new friends and interests. I really worried about it when we first moved, especially about DS and how he would adjust to grade 11 in a new place. But aside from a few minor glitches he ahas done well. DD...well she just seems to fit in where ever she goes. We have heard about a few past friends and the choices that they have made have been less than stellar, so I am VERY glad for our move away. I would rather not put either kid in a situation in which they may fail. I mean I know they have to try things but why would I set them up for THAT kind of failure when I can control some of what happens.

I started Step dance again at the dance studio. This session there a few more people who joined. My DD is one of them. We are having alot of fun. I really like that class and missed it over the summer. We recruited 2 dance moms, DD and another dancer and last week we got 2 more dance moms to join. We now have a class of about 11 people.

Every September DH goes hunting for Moose. This year, I decided back in March that I would go with him for the trip away from work. He goes way up north to a small town in the Kirkland Lake area. It is an eight hours drive. I thought that would be GREAT knitting time. and the week up there I could get a lot of knitting done too. Well in August, I decided to take the Hunter Safety Education and Firearms Safety course before we left. I FINALLY found a course on a weekend that worked for my schedule. I took it the weekend before we left. I was VERY nervous about taking the courses as I didn't have any experience with anything to do with hunting or firearms, BUT DH had the manuals and had me read them before the class. I found that after I read them I felt alot better about it and wasn't quite so nervous. The class was all about safety and using your common sense. Which I must say is not really prevelant in the worlds population today. After sitting in a community centre for about 20 hours over a 2 day weekend I passed BOTH the Hunting test and the Firearms test. I was sent on my way with the paperwork to get my hunting and firearms license. Now I didn't know if I could ACTUALLY hunt but at the very least I was going to maybe give it a try.

We left the following Saturday on our great hunting/knitting trip. I did knit in the vehicle on the way up. I started and finished the Calorimetry and decided that I would give it to my niece for Christmas. We arrived around 6ish at the camp, which is in the middle of an old logging area where there is no power, water or any of the amenities that I am used to. Now I have been camping before but this was REALLY roughing it.

After we arrived we went for a drive in the area so DH could show me what it was like. OMG it was beautiful...even the clearcut logging areas were nice and interesting to see. There would be a beautiful treed area right beside a totally clearcut area. The contrast was really pretty to see.

We did alot of driving around the area looking for wildlife. I didn't get as much knitting done as I wanted, but I did end up have a wonderful vacation (1st in 3 years). I sat in the bush waiting for some moose to come by within my range (they didn't). I did alot of thinking and discovered a few things about myself that I didn't know. I am a stronger person than I give myself credit for.

I started the Blue Jeans Leaf Shawl when I was away, using Berrocco Ultra Fine Alpaca. I also started and finished Tudora, it is another Christmas gift for someone on my list. I knit it using some Kilcarra Aran Tweed that I received in a swap from Ireland. I sat in the bush and waited for the wildlife to come by and knit it. I dind't get alot of knitting done but I did try. There was just so much to see and things to be done that I didn't get to knit. I would do it again in a heartbeat though.

I saw almost every kind of wildlife that was there to see. I saw a Moose, (we followed him for 2.5km down the road), a black bear, a lynx, beavers, a turtle, grouse, loons, crested morganzers (birds), a mink, a rabbit, lots of ravens and a few other ducks. I had a GREAT time, we ate well and the company of the others in the group was wonderful. I didn't want to come home.

Here is my foot compared to the Moose track. I have a size 7.5 foot.

I left DD and DS at home with a friend. They had a good time to and since the house was still standing when I got back I decided that I could possibly, maybe go again next year. We will have to see...

3 days after I came back to reality was knitting group. We met and had a nice evening. I working on the shawl some more. I am also working on some sock that seem to have taken a back seat to everything else that I am doing. I tried to knit the Printed Silk Cardigan but after frogging it back 3 times decided to give up on it and make the Basic Cardigan with a few modifications instead. I decided to put a cable pattern up each side of the button band. I think I will wear this sweater alot more and I am feeling better about it. The other one was really stressing me out.

Work has been busy. There was quite a few things to catch up on after being gone for a week but it has been a good busy. I didn't know how much I needed the break till I was gone. I won't be waiting another 3 years before I take another one!

My poor dog, Tiger, pined for me while I was away. DD told me that he didn't eat for 2 days. She was getting quite worried, so she put peanut butter on his kibble to get him to eat...it worked. He looks like he lost a pound or 2, which is a good thing since he gets alot of treats from my customers every day. But we are back into our routine now and he is fine and eating well...oh yea, the customers are happy he is back too!

Well I don't know where September has gone, but now we are into October and things are just flying along.

I have received the Dog Days of Summer Sock Club kit from WoolGirl, It is Fabulous. I hope to start the socks very soon. I also received the Heels and Toes kit from Simply Sock Yarn Company, and the HandMaiden sock kit from Pick Up Sticks. I seem to have alot more socks to knit...too bad I am knitting sweaters and shawls at the moment! I really want to get back to socks. Winter is coming and my feet get VERY cold! I am just going to have to knit faster and more often. I try to knit every morning while DD and DS are getting ready for school. (I have an hour) then I have to get ready for work. It's not alot of time but at the end of the week it adds up.

I have also finished the Corset Tank Top. I just have to add the buttons down the front. I decided to permanently sew up the front and just have the buttons there for looks.

I received a wonderful gift in the mail from PurpleJenn. She sent me a Pay It Forward gift. OMG it is beautiful. She combed, dyed and spun yarn just for me! She also dyed sock yarn just for me too! There were quite a few other goodies (a tea towel, a coaster) in the package too! It was quite fun to open it and see them all. The sweets dissappeared as soon as I got home, DS has a sweet tooth!

I also finished a pair of 4 x 2 ribbed socks. I tried a new type of toe. I think it was the star toe. I didn't mind how it turned out. They were knit for my part time employee, J. They fit her perfectly and she was thrilled to receive them!. I was happy to knit them for her as I know she appreciates things like that.

Well I think that is about all for now. I will try to post a few more pictures of my completed projects in the next few days.

About Me

I work full time, have 2 kids, a husband and a dog named Tiger.
Life keeps getting in the way of what I want to do!
I love to knit (but there is NEVER enough time in the day), quilt, cross stitch, do stained glass and celtic step dance.
My email is packingsquirrelATyahooDOTca